PNG improves on FIFA world ranking

PAPUA New Guinea is making history in football, being placed 159 out of 205 countries in the Federation of the International Football Associations (Fifa) men’s ranking only two years after it was completely out of the table.
The latest Fifa ranking announced on Oct 20 shows that in the Oceania Football Confederation, Papua New Guinea is below New Zealand, who are ranked 116 and the rest of Oceania countries are below PNG.
The rankings are from results in international fixtures sanctioned by Fifa and give an indication of active national associations.
PNGFA president David Chung welcomed the announcement, saying the efforts of PNGFA to reorganise and refocus on the national teams was showing positive results for PNG.
The PNG men’s national team is currently preparing for the OFC qualification rounds for the Fifa 2018 World
Cup in Russia. “This is historic for PNG. We have never reached this ranking since becoming a member of Fifa in 1968 and it speaks volumes,” Chung said.
“We need to continue to work hard and with the reforms announced by Fifa recently on funding for national associations.
“This is positive news and we must aim to strengthen our support and focus for the national team.
“I am happy to also add that the friendly with Malaysia next month is a fully-fledged international friendly sanctioned by Fifa and will add to the rankings.
“Malaysia is ranked 164. Our team is preparing to go into camp and we want support as the team moves forward.”
In group B, PNG plays Tahiti home and away next March before playing the Solomon Islands in June.
The winner of Group B plays the winner of Group A which consists New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia.
The winner then plays the fifth placed team of the South American Confederation. Oceania Fifa rankings:
1. New Zealand (116), 2. PNG (159), 3. New Caledonia (166), 4. Tahiti (172), 5. Vanuatu (177), 6. Fiji (179), 7. American Samoa (189), 8. Cook Islands (189), 9. Samoa (189), 10. Solomon Islands (193)